Getting large masses into orbit

[Zeekin]

I'm curious as to the kinds of masses it's possible to get into orbit and the techniques associated with it - the best I've been able to manage so far is just over 100 tonnes (screenie)

My intention was for it to be a re-fueling area, but I had to burn 1/2 the fuel in it just to put it into orbit

I used a slightly modified asparagus staging system to get it up there, mostly a manual effort as mechjeb+gimbal = unstable

Anyone have any tips for getting large weights into orbit?

Cheers!

[rosenkranz]

My personal best has been about 120t but, i've heard of folks putting several hundred tons into orbit in one launch. Given the number of parts to get 120 into orbit I estimate that 'hundreds' would bake cpu. A lot comes down to the rig you're running it on. The number of tanks and engines required increases at a near exponential rate.

[Richy teh space man]

Just short of 195 tons is my personal record. Rockomaxes are your friend for this, but you may have to turn off the gimballing for some of them if you find your rocket exploding mysteriously at a certain height (took me ages to narrow that down)

[dr_jt]

Consider Kerbals

Edited June 6, 2013 by dr_jt

[HGGundamReviews]

I honestly prefer to build in orbit. If you use the quantum struts mod you can build really stable space stations. I have redesigned my stations because of the massive lag they had. So now their unmanned probe controlled structures. Pic below.

7 launches, when I designed it I designed the launchers so they could not only get each part into space meetup and assemble, but also to launch them to the Mun as well and do the same. Each part has a RCS tug as it's probe core. Though only 1 of the 7 RCS tugs are kept on the station. The rest I redocked to the launcher then docked to the station, dumped all but enough fuel to deorbit, once I got the tanks installed.

4 orange tanks 1 per launch, a RCS module with 3 tanks, the truss they are docked to and the truss with the solar array. With the RCS tug docked on top. The quantum struts set around the docking ports, and on the adapters on top and bottom of the tanks make this thing rock solid. I accidently ran into it while putting the solar array on top and while it did go spinning, not a single instance of wobbling parts

My launchers are obviously big, but most of these parts are near 50 ton each save for the solar array. If anyone is interested I'll put together my craft files for the station and my ships designed to fill them (kethan mining) and post them. The launchers can be used for anything of similar weights.

Though a lot of mods will need to be installed to use my files. MechJeb 2.0.7, Firespitter 4.1, Quantum Struts, quantum fuel transfer, ISA Mapsat 3.3.4, NovaPunch Pack, KSPX, Kethane, MPSS Nautilus 1.2 + FLY Orbital tug 1.0, B9 Aerospace R2-5, Hybrid Ion engine + Mod, empty Fuel Tanks Mod, I believe thats everything I used parts from O.o ...

My ship launchers use a decoupler so you will need to strut the hell out of whatever you put on top. Subassembly Loader Mod also recommended. The station launchers have a docking port on top so using a adapter with a docking port and quantum struts to secure your payload is the best option.

Again if anyone is interested I'll make a zip file with everything.

Edited May 9, 2013 by HGGundamReviews

[Kidneythump]

With a proper asparagus setup you can get almost anything into orbit. My personal record was an unwieldly 250 ton monster of a tug. I used quantum struts for stabilisation and i needed to fire the nervas for the final circularizationburn but it managed it :-) sadly I have no picture since I ended upp abandoning it due to the heavy Lagg it generated.

[erendrake]

I think my best is around 350t

It was a fun build.

I actually have a launch for it on video! starts @1:00

[lyndonguitar]

Biggest Rocket I've made so far, Although its the only big one because I don't like making unrealistic rockets, I try to fit it in the fairings the best that I can, If I can't fit it, I split it into two parts and dock it later, this is just one exception

Edited May 9, 2013 by lyndonguitar